The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20
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And so they did, and this was why Clinton
had ventured to visit his home upon that fatal
night. lie rested at the little home feeling
perfect security. and even the dogs had gath.
cred around the blazing hearth, and were
looking gladly upon their master, when
the sharp click of the guns of the soldiers came
simultaneously with the command of the GALE
vary lieutenant.
Surrender and open your doors OF wen
break them down."
The command was refused by the elder
daughter, who threw herself against the door.
and at the same time Clinton had made HIM
self ready to sell his life as dearly as possible.
The door was broken down, and instantane-
GUS with that guns were presented at Clinton,
who was standing ready to defend himself
against the first who should enter.
Surrender or diel" exclaimed the heuten-
ant, as the men held their fingers upon the
triggers of their guns.
'Die!" said Clinton. "I'u never surren.
der.'
Atthis instant the daughters and mother
rushed between Clinton and his pursuers and
the mother was badly wounded and the two
girls killed instantly.
AS his dear ones fell upon the floor Clinton
seemed to lose all reason, and rushing upon his
pursuers in the dark he fought as q demon
brought TO bay and defeated single-handed the
entire crowd, killing the lieutenant and three
OF his men and wounding six more of them by
clubbing his gun.
The VOWS that Clinton made, kreeling that
night by his loved ones, he devoted his life
to fulfill, and If there is more than one of that
company OF men who have not subsequently,
died with their boots on, it is not known. and
II Will be well, il there are any, for them to
keep very quiet and be ON the watch for an
iron-grey, six-foot-three man, and keep out Of
his way, for Lem Clinton still lives and has
never made peace nor laid his gun in its rack
from that day to this.
Let us follow Clinton from the graves of his
loved ones, for he has joined the bushwhackers
LII q a nd tnp, IL
appointment to meet with them at their meet
ing place. Here he goes, over a rugged noun
tain path, until at last the trail isilost and he
scrambles from peak to peak till he stands upon
atQWerngl crag, whose foot is washed by the
turbd waters of the big Tallapoosa He has
been here before, for he lashes his gun upon
his shoulder and at once approached huge
grape vine that has been fastened to q noun
tain oak and splced till it reaches the waters
below, and grasping it with firm hold he
eases himself over the precipice and
down, hand over hand, for two hundred feet he
goes, till his feet strikes the bottom of light
batteau, and then seating himself at one end
he moves down the river till he comes to tho
confluence of the Big and Little Tallapoosa
rivers and there he stops draws his batteau
up in the bushes and makes his way few
steps into the forest, where the bushwhacBers
are to hold their meeting and formulate their
plans.
Heresis SPOT Tint natslre has fitted ion
hall q secrecy. Two laige rige1s fomihG
forest back in the ''fork.'' with towering craqs
and lofty trees, that lend their shadows to q
dismal night that makes darkness seem thing
Of substance.
Fifty men, made desperate by the feuds Of
the times, swear allegiance to each other, and
elect Lem Clinton as their captain.
Now give me chaw of bacco" said O
heayy-set middle-aged man, who held gun
i'll his hand that was fully as long as himself,
and whose right name was Hickenbother, but
who was famihary known as old HEX II
haint had nothing to say at the meeting, but
voted for our captain, and now me and old
Betsy Baker, Gas he called his gum are ready
TO obey his orders and to follow him to hi"
81 wish he'd order you to kill that owl that's
been or ho-ho-ing over thar for the last two
hours" spoke up Joe Presly.
Further conversation was cut short by the
tall form of Lem Clinton arising from the log
upon which he had been sitting, and chunking
Ike dim fire which furnished q little light foF
the occasion, he cleared his throat and said:
Boys, you all know me. I've not got much
TO say. You all understand what we have
agreed upon about the signals, but will repeat
to you the urgent charge already given, thas
no man shall leave these diggings so far but
what he can see light when 1t is flashed from
the ferry peak, unless he gets permission to
do 50. When you see lightburning on yandeY
highest peak, to the right of tho ferry landing,
you must drop everything and report here at
this place as soon as you can; and mind be
careful and look out for spies. The meeting is
dismissed"
So spoke the man who had been chosen by
unanimous consent, the leader of the "layers.
out" of the Tallapoosa fork"
Let us again visit the camp OF the soldiery
at Wedowee. Three days rations have been
prepared and the men are ready to march at a
moments warning. Eighty-liye men are ready
and anxious to avenge the death of their fat
len comrades in the Clinton fight.
The night is dark and as the soldiers mount
their horses and file into the Burrows ferry
road and head for the river, tho tall form OF
Lem Clinton emmergod from o neighboring
thcket, and with his gun at TRAIL he darts
across the road and takes a near cut that will
land him at the ferry at least an hour ahead OF
the troops. Once at the ferry, he mounts up,
up, the rugged side Of the ferry peak" and
1t is but the WORK OF moment TO have the
whole top Of the towering peak illuminated BY
lightwood fire, that had already been pr6A
pared OF rich lightwood gplinters that would
flash for but moment and dying out, leave
all in darkness.
The bushwackers are together, and led by
Clinton, they take their places ON either side
Of the road that is terminated by the river,
With impossible mountains on either side. and
the river In front, there was no way for the
soldiers to retreat except to right about, il once
they were in the gorge.
"Quiet men, let eyery man be quiet until
Ishall give the word 'fre, and then let every
man do his duty, and Lem Clinton will do
his"
There was nothing now for tho bushwhackors
The trap was set, once in the gorge the sol
diers would have no way of retreat but to
plunge into the swollen Tallapoosa or to about
face, which latter had been anticipated by
Clinton and he had IL arranged to close In the
road and cut off retreat in that direction.
1t was thus that things stood when the
clank Of Sabres announced the close approach
Of the soldiers. On, on they came, unconscious
of danger, till the head Of the column had
reached the rivers bank and the officer In
command gave the word:
"HaltW
The tall form of Lem Clinton sprang into
the road, and at the same time his shrill voice
was heard clear and distinct:
"FireW
And fifty bushwhackers pulled the trigger OF
their guns, and above the clatter and confusion
the voice Of Lem Clinton was heard;
"No quarterl Die, devils, diet"
This closed the career of that company. Not
one escaped to tell the tale, and that was the
last organized military Of the confederacy thai
made an attempt to invade the fork"
SARGE.
Building tones made Of corn-cobs form the
object ola new Italian patent. ia Clefici, OF MI
Ian, u the name Of the patentee, The cObs are
pressed by machinery Into forms similar 70 brick
and held together by wire They arc male water